GIFT  OF 


Contents. 
The  prophecy.  1794.  By  Dr.  Timothy  Dwight.  (Poem). 

Assembly  bill  no.  49.  Introduced  by  Mr.  Holden  Dec 
18,  1865.  An  act  to  establish  an  agricultural  a 
mechanical  arts  college  in  Sonoma  County. 

Agricultural  college.  Address  of  Hon.  A.  A.  Sarge 
Sept.  21,  1865. 

Report  of  the  Committee  cof  the  Senate}  on  /State 
university  to  whom  was  referred  memorial  of  the 
Mechanics  institute  of  San  Francisco.  Feb.  10, 

Mining  sdhools  in  the  U.  S.,  by  J.  A.  Church.  1871 
(U.C.  p.  21-22)  (Repr.  fr.  North  American  review. 
Jan.  1871). 

Report  con  the  Oakland  college  block  property.  Nov 
1871. 

Our  state  university  and  th«  aspirant  to  the  presi 
cby  Gustavus  Schuitea  1872. 

Columbia1  s  wrath,  not  sparing  the  Regents  of  the  S 
university  of  California  coy  Gustavus  Schulte  18 

The  resignation  of  the  Board  of  regents,  (the  ex-o 
members  excepted)  dictated  by  a  sense  of  honor  a 
duty  cby  Gustavus  Schulte  j  1874. 

Reply  of  D.  C.  ^ilman  to  criticisms  of  the  Univ.  o 
California  made  by  the  Rev.  Robert  Patterson,  of 
Oakland.  c!873i  (with  two  letters  concerning  sam 


Report  on  the  water  supply  of  the  Univ.  of  Califor 
cby  Frank  Soule,jr.i  1874. 

Report  on  the  water  supply  of  the  Univ.  of  Cafcifor 
cby  a  special  committee  of  the  Regents  3  Dec.  187 

Report  of  the  Committees  on  public  buildings  and 
grounds  of  the  Senate  and  Assembly,  c  1875-76  i. 

*l4  Majority  and  minority  reports  of  the  Senate  commit 
on  education  relative  to  Assembly  bill  no.  374. 
cl875-76i  (Concerning  abolition  of  Board  of  rege 
etc.  3). 

;15  Report  of  the  Committee  on  education  to  the  Assemb 
£2d  session.  c!878i. 

>/l6  Report'  of  the  Senate  committee  on  education.  Feb.l 

s  17  Report  of  the  c  Assembly  3  committee  on  education.  F 
1883. 


X18  Report  of  cAs-s^mblyD  committee  on  Agricultu 
and  Mechanics  arts  college.  Feb. 13,  18! '3. 


ural,  Mi 


REPORT 


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OP    THE 


SENA.TE    AJXT)    A.SSEMBLY. 


REPORT. 


The  Committees  on  Public  Buildings  and  Grounds  of  both  Houses 
have  agreed  in  joint  session  upon  the  following  as  their  report  upon 
the  public  buildings  of  this  State  which  they  have  visited : 

On  the  buildings  here  reported  upon,  testimony  was  taken  as  to 
their  condition  and  wants,  and  as  to  the  application  made  by  their 
Managers,  Directors,  or  Trustees  of  the  public  moneys  intrusted  to 
them,  in  part  before  the  committees  singly,  and  in  part  before  them 
when  they  were  sitting  together.  All  this  testimony  has  been 
adopted  by  each  committee,  and,  together  with  their  personal  inspec- 
tion of  the  buildings  reported  upon,  forms  the  basis  of  this  report. 

The  building  for  which  the  largest  appropriation  is  asked,  and  the 
management  of  whose  affairs  has  required — being  in  a  very  involved 
state — most  time,  patience,  and  labor  at  the  hands  of  the  committees, 
is  the  Napa  State  Asylum  for  the  Insane,  and  to  it  therefore  belongs 
the  first  place. 

NAPA  STATE  ASYLUM  FOR  THE  INSANE. 

The  Senate  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  and  Grounds,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  duties  imposed  upon  them  by  law,  visited  the  above 
institution  on  Tuesday,  January  eleventh,  eighteen  hundred  and 
seventy-six.  The  buildings  and  grounds  were  carefully  examined 
and  a  protracted  meeting  was  held  in  the  office  of  Mr.  Hartson,  in 
Napa.  There  was  present  on  the  occasion,  Messrs.  Hartson,  Sterling, 
and  Doble,  of  the  Board  of  Directors ;  W.  C.  Watson,  Treasurer ;  J. 
Wright,  Architect ;  and  Robert  Ewing,  contractor  for  the  brick  lay- 
ing. They  were  severally  examined  under  oath  upon  all  matters 
connected  with  the  administration  of  the  trust  committed  to  them  by 
the  Legislature,  the  manner  of  construction  of  the  building,  and  the 
extent  and  value  of  the  water  supply. 

The  Assembly  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  and  Grounds  vis- 
ited Napa  on  the  twentieth  and  twenty-first  days  of  December,  eigh- 
teen hundred  and  seventy-five,  and  while  there  made  a  careful  exam- 
ination of  the  asylum.  They  also  took  the  testimony  of  Mr.  Nathan 
Coombs  as  to  the  water  right,  and  listened  to  the  statement  of  Mr.  W. 
C.  Watson,  the  Secretary,  as  to  the  state  of  his  books  and  accounts. 
Subsequently,  in  Sacramento,  they  examined  many  witnesses,  and 
read  and  collated  various  long  and  intricate  accounts,  or  rather 
what  purported  to  be  accounts.  They  have  had  the  advantage  of  the 
advice  of  an  expert  architect  in  estimating  the  value  of  the  building, 


and  of  an  expert  accountant  in  arriving  at  the  state  of  its  financial 
affairs. 

It  would  have  been  a  pleasant  task  to  them  if,  after  all  their  labor 
in  investigating  the  affairs  and  condition  of  this  great  public  institu- 
tion, they  could  come  before  the  Legislature  and  report  that  the 
Board  of  Directors  had  been  as  careful  in  expending  the  people's 
money  as  they  were  in  erecting  an  elegant  and  almost  regal  edifice. 

If  one  were  to  point  it  out  to  a  stranger  as  the  residence,  built  by 
the  State's  charity  for  five  hundred  lunatics,  mostly  paupers,  it  would 
be  natural  for  the  stranger  to  infer,  that  here  in  California,  pointed 
towers  and  gaud}7  minarets,  a  shining  roof  and  tesselated  floors,  elec- 
tric bells,  and  a  sixteen-thousand-dollar  clock,  were  the  proper  and 
requisite  appurtenances  to  the  already  magnificent  accommodations 
here  provided.  Xot  only  are  all  these  things  wholly  unnecessary ; 
they  are  absolutely  detrimental  to  a  building  of  this  description  ; 
making  it  a  gazing-place  for  visitors,  who  by  their  constant  presence 
serve  to  irritate  the  patients  and  render  them  dissatisfied.  Such  is 
merely  the  impression  this  committee  received  on  visiting  the 
asylum. 

After  hearing  all  the  testimony,  and  making  use  of  every  means  o: 
information  that  was  open  to  us,  your  committee  have  come  to  the 
following  conclusions : 

We  find  that  under  the  provisions  of  section  twenty-one  of  the  Ac 
entitled  an  Act  to  provide  further  accommodations  for  the  insane  o 
the  State  of  California  (approved  March  twenty-seventh,  eighteen 
hundred  and  seventy-two),  and  to  provide  a  special  fund  therefor,  the 
Governor,  on  the  tenth  day  of  April,  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy- 
four,  appointed  C.  H.  Swift  and  Drs.  G.  A.  Shurtleff  and  E.  T.  Wjl 
kins,  as  Commissioners  to  select  a  site  for  the  asylum  provided  for  in 
the  said  Act.     They  reported  to  the  Governor  on  the  second  day  o 
August,  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-two,  that  they  had  selected  a 
tract  of  land  containing  two  hundred  and  eight  acres,  contiguous  to 
the  Town  of  Xapa,  and  their  selection  was  ratified  by  the  Governoi 
and  T.  M.  Logan,  M.  D.,  Secretary  of  the  State  Board  of  Health,  on 
August  twelfth,  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-two. 

On   the  twenty-third   day  of  the  same   month   the   Governor,   in 
accordance  with  section  five  of  the  aforesaid  Act,  appointed  the  fol 
lowing-named  gentlemen  to  act  as  Directors,  to  manage  the  affairs  o 
the  institution  :     J.  H.  Goodman,  C.  Hartson,  and  R.  H.  Sterling,  res 
idents  of  Xapa,  to  serve  for  t\vo  years,  and  J.  W.  Jewett  and  Dr.  J.  F 
Mor.se  to  hold  office  for  four  years  from  the  date  of  their  respective 
appointments.     On  the  thirteenth  day  of  September,  eighteen  hun 
dred  and  seventy-two,  the  Directors  met  and  organized  by  electing 
Dr.  J.  F.  Morse  as  President,  J.  H.  Goodman,  Vice  President,  and  W 
C.  Watson  as  Treasurer  and  ex  officio  Secretary.     It  was  then  resolyec 
upon  to  advertise  for  plans  and  specifications  for  an  asylum  building 
to  accommodate  five  hundred  patients,  with  the  proper  accommoda 
tions  for  the  officers  and  the  latest  improvements.     The  architects 
were  required  to  produce  such  a  design  as  would  comply  with  thes< 
conditions  in  a  substantial  manner,  at  a  cost  not  to  exceed  six  hundrec 
thousand  dollars,  and  to  provide  that  it  should  be  so  arranged  that  ( 
section,  capable  of  accommodating  two  hundred  patients,  could 
completed  for  the  appropriation  named  in  the  aforesaid  Act.     Premi- 
ums were  offered  as  follows  :     First  premium,  one  thousand  five  hun- 
dred  dollars ;   second,   one  thousand   dollars ;   third,   five  hundr* 


dollars.  On  the  sixteenth  day  of  January,  eighteen  hundred  and 
seventy-three,  designs  were  submitted  by  several  architects,  and  on 
the  twenty-third  day  of  January,  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy- 
three,  the  Board  met  and  examined  them.  They  were  divided  in 
their  choice — a  majority  not  being  in  favor  of  any  one  design.  Gov- 
ernor Booth  and  Drs.  Shurtleff  and  Wilkins  were,  by  virtue  of  section 
seven  of  the  Act  aforesaid,  appointed  as  an  advisory  committee, 
whose  approval  was  absolutely  required  before  the  final  adoption  of 
any  one  plan  by  the  Board  of  Directors. 

All  the  plans  were  submitted  to  the  advisory  committee,  and  the 
designs  submitted  by  Wright  &  Sanders  were  selected  by  Governor 
Booth,  Drs.  Shurtleff  and  Wilkins,  as  being,  in  their  judgment,  the 
best  of  all,  provided  the  building  designed  could  be  erected  for  six 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  Their  choice  was  unanimously  ratified 
by  the  Board  of  Directors,  and  a  bond  of  five  thousand  dollars  was 
signed  by  Wright  &  Sanders  that  said  building  could  be  erected  for 
the  sum  named  and  in  the  manner  prescribed  by  law. 

Premiums  were  then  given  as  follows:  First  premium,  one  thou- 
sand five  hundred  dollars,  to  Wright  &  Sanders ;  second,  of  one 
thousand  dollars,  to  Bugbee  &  Sons;  third,  of  five  hundred  dollars, 
to  A.  T.  Eisen.  In  accordance  with  the  instructions  of  the  Board  of 
Directors,  estimates  were  received  as  follows,  being  based  on  the  plans 
and  specifications  as  adopted  : 


Excavating  drains  and  asphaltum  work $11,740  00 

Rubble  stone  work 34,500  00 

Brick  work 194,350  00 

Stone 17,100  00 

Wrought-iron 16,320  00 

Galvanized-iron  cornice 30,130  00 

Wrought-iron  for  vanes 1,720  00 

Elevators,  tubes,  bells,  etc 8,220  00 

Engine  and  steam  work 18,400  00 

Denit  arching  and  setting 2,500  00 

Carpenters'  work,  lumber,  painting  and  glazing 153,178  00 

Slating  and  metal-work  of  roof 26,130  00 

Plastering  and  deafening 21,238  00 

TotaL_                                                                                .  $535,526  00 
FARRELL'S  ESTIMATE. 

Excavating  stone  and  brick  work  and  drains $260,550  00 

Plastering  and  deafening 20,620  00 

Carpenter  work,  lumber 151,012  00 

Tin-smith,  slating,  and  galvanized  cornice 61,302  00 

Steam  fixtures,  steam  boiler,  engine,  and  gas-pipe,  and 

plumbing,  and  water-tanks 27,135  00 

Artificial'stone  work 18,450  00 

Tiling  denit,  and  wrought-iron  work 14,384  00 

Hydraulic  lifts,  mantels,  ovens,  and  asphaltum  __  10,452  00 

Total  __                                                                              .  $563,905  00 


In  reply  to  a  question  by  the  Chairman  of  the  Senate  committee, 
Mr.  Ewing  stated  that  he  would  have  entered  into  a  contract  for  the 
completion  of  the  structure  for  the  sum  named. 

So  far,  the  Directors  seem  to  have  acted  with  commendable  pru- 
dence, and,  according  to  law,  it  was  supposed  that  a  contract  would 
have  been  entered  into  with  Mr.  Ewing,  a  competent  and  responsi- 
ble builder,  at  the  lowest  estimate ;  such  a  proposal  could  not  be 
otherwise  than  satisfactory.  This  was  not  done ;  the  Board  and  its 
architects  proceeded  to  revise  the  specifications  in  nearly  every 
important  item,  vastly  increasing  the  cost  of  the  building  and  retard- 
ing its  completion.  Specious  pretexts  were  assigned  for  these  impor- 
tant alterations,  but  on  a  thorough  investigation,  we  have  found 
them  to  be  wholly  uncalled  for,  with  the  exception  of  one,  involving 
an  increased  cost  of  not  more  than  fifteen  thousand  dollars ;  that  is 
the  change  to  Port  Orford  cedar  finish.  After  these  changes  were 
determined  on,  and  before  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature,  the  Board 
entered  into  a  contract  with  John  Cochrane,  of  San  Francisco,  for  the 
completion  of  the  foundation  and  basement  story  of  the  entire  build- 
ing, at  a  cost  of  sixty-four  thousand  four  hundred  and  forty-four  dol- 
lars ;  this,  too,  in  the  face  of  the  fact,  that  the  whole  amount  availa- 
ble for  the  completion  of  the  first  section,  was  less  than  two  hundred 
and  thirty-seven  thousand  dollars.  This  was  a  breach  of  not  only 
the  statute  law,  but  also  of  the  benevolent  intentions  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, who,  in  the  exercise  of  a  humane  policy,  and  taking  into  the 
fullest  consideration  the  lamentable  over-crowding  of  the  Stockton 
Asylum,  were  desirous,  at  the  earliest  possible  moment,  to  have  a 
suitable  building  erected  to  relieve  that  institution.  The  language 
of  the  statute,  providing  for  this  matter,  is  as  follows:  "  And  further 
provided,  that  the  Directors  shall  not  adopt  any  plans  for  the  asylum, 
or  other  buildings,  that  will  not  secure  the  building  and  finishing  of 
at  least  one  section  thereof,  suitable  for  the  accommodation  and  treat- 
nient  of  patients,  within  the  appropriation  named  in  this  Act."  Yet, 
in  the  face  of  this  mandate,  they  proceed  to  let  out  this  first  contract, 
which  absorbs  more  than  one-fourth  of  the  amount  available  for  the 
completion  of  the  section  required. .  From  the  commencement  to  the 
present  time,  the  action  of  the  Directors  has  been  an  unbroken  series 
of  expensive  changes  arid  violated  promises.  Commencing  at  the 
foundation,  we  find  that  under  the  Ewing  bid,  the  cost  thereof  would 
not  exceed  thirty-four  thousand  five  hundred  dollars;  Cochrane  was 
awarded  the  work  at  sixty-four  thousand  four  hundred  and  forty- 
four  dollars,  and  his  final  settlement  was  for  eighty-one  thousand 
nine  hundred  dollars,  or  an  increase  of  forty-seven  thousand  dollars 
over  the  original  estimate.  The  following  schedule  will  show  at  a 
glance  the  progressive  changes  made  in  the  character  of  the  work  : 

Swing's  first  estimate  was  for >V>5,536  00 

Architects' first  estimate 600,000  00 

Architects'  second  estimate 838,570  00 

The  latter  estimate  was  submitted  to  the  last  Legislature,  and  after 
careful  consideration,  both  by  the  Senate  and  Assembly  Committees. 
and  upon  the  positive  promise  from  the  Directors  that  the  sum  named 
was  sufficient  for  the  entire  completion  of  the  structure,  with  all  its 
adjuncts,  and  the  water-works  required  for  the  use  of  the  institution, 
it  was  accepted  and  the  Legislature  passed  an  Act  (approved  March 


twenty-fourth,  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-four),  appropriating 
the  sum  of  six  hundred  thousand  dollars  to  pay  the  deficiency  in  the 
amount  required  for  the  completion  of  the  asylum,  with  the  proviso 
that  one  section  capable  of  accommodating  two  hundred  patients 
should  be  completed  by  the  first  day  of  November,  eighteen  hundred 
and  seventy-four ;  and  further,  "  the  Directors  are  hereby  directed 
and  required  to  complete  said  asylum  for  the  sum  appropriated,  and 
that  said  Board  shall  not  let  any  contract  which  shall  exceed  that 
sum." 

Section  3.  The  provisions  of  section  three  thousand  two  hundred 
and  thirty-three  of  the  Political  Code  are  hereby  declared  not  to 
apply  to  the  Napa  State  Asylum  for  the  Insane,  and  all  contracts 
heretofore  made  for  said  erection  are  hereby  legalized. 

Section  4.  Any  violation  or  failure  to  comply  with  section  two  of 
this  Act  by  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Napa  State  Asylum  for  the 
Insane,  shall  be  a  misdemeanor,  and  shall  be  punished  by  law,  and 
all  contracts  made  or  debts  incurred  in  violation  of  this  or  any  other 
statute  of  this  State  defining  their  powers  shall  be  void. 

The  requirements  of  the  Legislature  are  here  again  unmistakably 
set  forth,  and  any  attempt  to  evade  them  is  made  a  crime  and  pun- 
ishable by  law.  The  completion  of  the  one  section  is  again  provided 
for;  the  fearfully  over-crowded  condition  of  the  Stockton  Asylum 
making  it  imperatively  necessary  to  provide  some  means  of  relief, 
and  the  Board  of  Directors  having  given  their  assurance  of  their 
ability  to  do  so  within  the  time  specified,  the  Legislature  placed  at 
their  disposal  the  full  amount  of  money  they  asked  for,  and  over- 
looked their  previous  illegal  manner  of  proceeding.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  provisions  of  this  Act,  their  solemn  assurances,  and  their 
knowledge  of  the  condition  of  the  Stockton  Asylum,  the  Board  of 
Directors  neglected  to  comply  with  the  conditions  imposed  on  them. 
The  section  so  urgently  required  was  not  completed  to  receive  patients 
until  more  than  one  year  after  the  time  specified.  The  appropriation 
is  all  expended,  heavy  obligations  have  been  incurred,  and  the  build- 
ing is  still  unfinished.  The  amount  of  money  required  for  the  com- 
pletion of  the  building  and  water-works  is  difficult  to  determine,  the 
reports  made  by  the  Directors  have  been  vague  and  unsatisfactory, 
and  the  architects'  reports  have  been  the  same ;  in  their  last  biennial 
report  the  sum  of  eight  hundred  and  eighty  thousand  nine  hundred 
and  twenty-six  dollars  and  thirtyv-four  cents  is  deemed  sufficient  to 
complete  the  building,  and  one  hundred  and  forty-two  thousand  and 
ninety-two  dollars  and  thirty- four  cents  to  complete  water-works, 
furniture,  and  grounds.  In  their  report  to  the  Senate  and  Assembly 
Committees  on  Public  Buildings  and  Grounds,  dated  January  twenty- 
second,  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-six,  the  cost  of  the  building, 
with  its  grounds,  is  put  down  at  one  million  two  hundred  and  sev- 
enty-nine thousand  one  hundred  and  eleven  dollars  and  four  cents; 
the  last  report  received,  and  dated  February  twentieth,  places  the 
cost  at  one  million  three  hundred  and  thirty-three  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  eighty-eight  dollars  and  seventy  cents  for  the  buildings; 
and  the  cost  of  the  ground,  in  addition,  amounts  to  thirteen  thousand 
two  hun'dred  and  fifty-six  dollars  and  forty-five  cents,  or  a  sum  total 
of  one  million  three  hundred  and  forty-seven  thousand  and  forty- 
four  dollars  and  forty-five  cents.  The  amount  appropriated  to  cover 
all  the  expense  of  construction,  and  the  improvement  of  the  property 
and  water  supply^  was  eight  hundred  and  forty-two  thousand  dollars. 


8 

The  amount  paid  out  on  contracts  amounts  to  eight  hundred  and  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  ninety-one  dollars  and  eighty-four 
cents,  and  on  work  done  at  schedule  rates,  twenty-five  thousand 
five  hundred  and  six  dollars  and  thirty-two  cents.  Total 
amount  paid  on  buildings,  eight  hundred  and  twenty-seven 
thousand  three  hundred  and  ninety-eight  dollars  and  sixteen  cents. 
Now  due  for  work,  at  schedule  rates,  two  hundred  and  fifteen  thou- 
sand nine  hundred  and  forty-five  dollars,  and  due  on  the  completion 
of  the  contracts,  two  hundred  and  two  thousand,  one  hundred  and 
seven  dollars  and  twenty-five  cents.  AYork  not  contracted  for,  twenty- 
six  thousand,  six  hundred  and  fifty-four  dollars  and  seventy-five 
cents.  They  have  thus  incurred  a  liability  of  four  hundred  and 
thirty  thousand  and  five  dollars  and  sixteen  cents,  over  the  amount 
allowed  by  statute.  The  obligations  are  due  to  the  various  contractors, 
and  though  they  have  been  made  in  direct  violation  of  the  law,  and 
are  void,  yet,  as  the  contractors  are  innocent  parties  who,  in  good 
faith,  have  furnished  materials  and  performed  labor  on  a  State  build- 
ing, on  contracts  made  with  State  officers,  they  should  be  paid. 

It  will  take  one  hundred  and  forty-one  thousand  one  hundred  and 
forty-one  dollars  to  fully  complete  the  water-works  and  grounds,  and 
furniture,  according  to  their  estimates,  which,  in  all  cases,  have  been 
under  the  proper  amount,  and  it  will  be  safe  to  say  that  they  will 
cost  more  than  that  amount.  While  we  do  not  say  that  any  money 
has  been  dishonestly  appropriated,  yet  there  has  been  an  extrava- 
gance of  finish  in  the  building  which,  in  our  opinion,  is  not  required 
for  the  use  to  which  the  structure  is  to  be  applied,  nor  in  accordance 
with  the  true  principles  of  economy.  The  amount  of  money  required 
to  pay  the  obligations  already  incurred  and  to  complete  the  work  is 
five  hundred  and  fifty-nine  thousand  one  hundred  and  ninety-three 
dollars  and  twenty-five  cents. 

Further  than  this,  the  Board  of  Directors,  pursuing  their  usual 
course  of  careless  extravagance,  and  presumably  under  the  care, 
direction,  and  advice  of  the  gentleman  who  seems  to  have  acted 
throughout  as  their  controlling  power,  the  architects  went  on  and 
expended  sixteen  thousand  dollars  in  improving  a  water-right  to 
which  the  State  has  no  definite  right,  and  from  which  she  can  legally 
derive  no  benefit, 

The  conclusions  arrived  at  by  your  committees  are  as  follows : 
The  Directors  have  failed  to  carry  out  the  humane  intentions  of  the 
Legislature,  by  not  completing  one  section  of  the  building  as  required 
by  law  and  as  they  so  solemnly  promised.  The  radical  changes  made  in 
the  character  of  the  work  were  not  all  suggested  by  Drs.  Wilkins 
and  Shurtleff,  but  rather  by  the  architects.  The  appointment  of  a 
commission  to  be  intrusted  with  the  management  of  the  construc- 
tion of  a  great  building  for  the  State,  consisting  of  gentlemen 
unskilled  in  architecture  or  building,  is  wholly  wrong;  in  this 
instance  the  commission  was  composed  of  bankers,  lawyers,  and 
physicians,  not  one  of  whom  were  familiar  with  building  matters, 
hence  they  were  in  the  hands  of  their  architects,  who  gradually  led 
them  from  change  to  change,  with  the  result  indicated  above.  It  is 
suggested  that  in  future  it  should  be  made  the  duty  of  the  appoint- 
ing power,  to  place  at  least  one  person  skilled  in  architecture,  or 
building,  upon  any  commission  intrusted  with  the  erection  of  a  pub- 
lic building.  We  congratulate  the  Legislature  and  the  people  upon 
the  passage  of  Senate  Bill  Xo.  143,  an  Act  to  regulate  contracts  on 


9 

behalf  of  the  State,  in  relation  to  erections  and  buildings.  This  law 
will,  if  rigidly  enforced,  prevent  any  such  proceedings  as  took  place 
in  the  management  of  the  Napa  State  Asylum  for  the  Insane. 

THE  DEAF  AND  DUMB  AND  BLIND  ASYLUM. 

The  Committees  on  Public  Buildings  and  Grounds  would  report  that 
they  visited  the  Institution  for  the  Education  of  the  Deaf,  Dumb,  and 
Blind,  at  Berkeley,  Alameda  County.  Under  the  guidance  of  the  Prin- 
cipal they  examined  the  grounds,  the  remains  of  the  burnt  buildings, 
the  water  supply,  and  the  new  building.  They  lind  the  latter  a  com- 
fortable structure — erected  as  an  addition  to  the  old  workshops — at  a 
cost  of  fourteen  thousand  seven  hundred  dollars.  Everything  pre- 
sented an  air  of  neatness  and  comfort.  An  investigation  was  held 
by  the  Senate  committee  in  the  office  of  the  Principal,  as  to  the  origin 
of  the  fire,  the  character  of  the  destroyed  building,  and  the  immediate 
wants  of  the  institution.  The  origin  of  the  fire  is  at  best  but  a  matter 
of  conjecture  ;  and  the  opinion  of  the  Principal  in  relation  thereto  is 
fully  set  out  in  the  last  biennial  report ;  the  character  of  the  building  he 
did  not  know  anything  about,  as  he  was  not  an  expert  in  such  matters. 
But  this  one  fact  impressed  your  committee — here  was  a  large  and  val- 
uable stone  structure,  costing  the  State  one  hundred  and  ninety  thou- 
sand dollars,  presenting  all  the  appearance  of  a  permanent  work, 
reduced  to  utter  ruin  within  one  hour  after  the  first  alarm  of  fire.  The 
ruins  of  the  wall  were  examined  and  found  to  be  constructed  in  the 
worst  manner,  of  inferior  materials  ;  whereas,  if  ordinary  work  had 
been  done,  the  State  could  now  avail  itself  of  the  walls  for  the  purpose 
of  reconstruction  ;  this,  however,  is  out  of  the  question,  and  provision 
must  be  made  for  a  new  building.  In  reply  to  a  question  by  the 
Chairman  of  the  Senate  committee,  the  Principal  stated  that  it  was 
the  desire  of  the  Board  that  the  sum  of  three  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars should  be  given  to  erect  a  building  to  accommodate  two  hundred 
and  fifty  pupils,  and  ten  thousand  dollars  additional  for  furniture. 
Your  committees  requested  that  plans,  showing  the  character  of  the 
building  desired,  should  be  placed  before  them,  which  should  be  of 
such  a  character  as  to  allow  the  completion  of  sufficient  accommoda- 
tions for  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  pupils  without  interfering 
with  future  additions  ;  a  plan  was  accordingly  presented,  which  was 
represented  as  meeting  the  wishes  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  and  as 
embodying  the  full  requirements  for  such  an  institution ;  the  price 
for  such  a  building  was  given  at  three  hundred  thousand  dollars, 
and  the  accommodations  were  for  one  hundred  and  eighty -five  pupils. 
Upon  a  thorough  examination  of  the  plan,  and  judging  the  style  of 
finish  from  a  small  picture  of  the  elevation,  your  committees  had  an 
expert  to  ascertain  the  probable  cost  of  the  same,  and  find  that  the  mere 
shell  of  the  building  would  cost  three  hundred  and  sixty  thousand 
dollars,  and  its  full  completion  one  hundred  and  forty  thousand  dol- 
lars more,  or  five  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  all,  being  at  the  rate  per 
capita  of  two  thousand  seven  hundred  dollars.  This  was  deemed 
extravagant,  and  further  plans  were  requested.  The  Principal  then 
suggested  what  is  termed  the  cottage  system,  which  consists  of  a  series 
of  detached  buildings,  with  one  central  administrative  department. 
No  plans,  however,  were  furnished,  but  the  sum  of  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars  was  requested  to  commence  the  work,  leaving  to 
2C 


10 

future  Legislatures  to  make  the  necessary  appropriations  for  the  com- 
pletion of  the  work.  Tin?  style  of  proceeding  your  committees  do 
not  think  prudent,  as  it  gives  too  much  latitude  in  the  direction  of 
the  work  which,  under  this  system,  is  as  costly  as  under  the  first.  A 
third  plan  was  then  presented,  carrying  out  the  system  adopted  in 
the  old  huilding,  and  the  sum  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dol- 
lars is  asked  under  this  to  provide  accommodations  for  two  hundred 
and  fifty  pupils — less  than  one-half  the  per  capita  at  first  required. 
If  your  committees  had  the  time  it  probably  would  still  further  be 
reduced  by  some  other  plan,  if  the  Principal  thought  proper  to  do  so. 
But,  haying  exhausted  our  time  in.  endeavoring  to  get  a  plan  of  such 
a  building  as  the  State  required  from  the  Board,  it  was  deemed 
prudent  to  have  plans  prepared  in  accordance  with  the  written 
requirements  of  the  Principal,  embodying  such  suggestions  as  would 
be  given  by  him.  Such  plans  have  been  prepared,  and  after  the 
fullest  consideration,  and  upon  the  sworn  testimony  of  our  expert, 
we  have  arranged  a  plan  that  can  be  constructed  for  one  hundred  and 
forty  thousand  dollars,  giving  ample  and  comfortable  accommodations 
to  two  hundred  and  eight  pupils,  or  at  the  rate  of  six  hundred  and 
seventy-four  dollars  per  capita.  When  it  is  taken  into  consideration 
that  ample  and  substantial  quarters  have  been  provided  for  the 
insane  at  Stockton  at  the  rate  of  six  hundred  and  one  dollars  per 
capita,  while  the  same  class  of  accommodations  cost  at  Xapa  two 
thousand  six  hundred  dollars,  the  difference  in  the  manner  of  build- 
ing can  be  best  appreciated.  The  subdivisions  in  the  Stockton 
building  are  more  costly  and  numerous  than  can  possibly  be  the  case 
in  this  structure,  each  patient  having  an  apartment  to  herself,  while 
the  dormitory  system,  with  large  class  and  sitting  rooms,  is  that 
adopted  and  recommended  by  the  Principal  of  the  Deaf  and  Dumb 
ami  Blind  Asylum,  and  is  much  less  costly  in  construction. 

The  plans  prepared  by  the  direction  of  the  committees  were  given 
the  Principal  for  inspection,  and  he  submitted  a  report  embodying 
seventy-six  objections ;  upon  careful  examination  of  the  same  we 
find  them  more  captious  than  real,  and  though  we  do  not  desire  to 
enforce  their  adoption,  yet  we  cannot  recommend  an  appropriation 
upon  any  other  basis  than  is  presented  by  said  plans,  they  being  in 
our  opinion  a  solution  of  the  problem  of  providing  the  maximum  of 
accommodation  at  the  minimum  of  cost,  as  far  as  our  information  ena- 
bles us  to  judge.  The  number  of  pupils  at  present  in  the  institution 
is  one  hundred  and  ten.  We,  therefore,  propose  to  allow  the  sum  of 
one  hundred  and  ten  thousand  dollars  to  commence  the  work  and 
provide  accommodations  for  one  hundred  and  thirty  pupils,  a  per 
capita  of  eight  hundred  and  forty-six  dollars  and  seventeen  cents, 
and  the  entire  structure  when  complete  shall  not  exceed  in  cost 
one  hundred  and  seventy-five  thousand  dollars,  and  shall  accommo- 
date two  hundred  and  fifty  pupils.  The  question  of  the  water  sup- 
ply is  one  that  requires  immediate  attention,  as  the  only  apparent 
source  is  from  a  comparatively  small  well  on  the  grounds — not  pro- 
viding enough  for  irrigation  purposes.  We  therefore  suggest  that 
money  be  provided  for  a  connection  with  the  water-works  of  the 
University,  about  one  mile  distant,  so  that  an  abundant  supply  may 
be  had  for  all  purposes. 

In  this  connection  we  must  state,  that  we  have  had  no  official 
knowledge  of  the  views  of  the  Directors,  either  in  writing  or  person- 


11 

ally.  This,  in  our  judgment,  is  rather  a  singular  course  of  proced- 
ure, showing  that  either  they  are  indifferent  to  the  management  of 
the  institution,  or  of  the  opinions  of  the  Legislature. 

STATE    CAPITOL. 

Your  committees  also  appointed  a  special  committee  to  examine 
into  the  condition  and  wants  of  the  State  Capitol,  and  their  report, 
herewith  submitted,  has  been  adopted  by  them,  and  they  concur  in 
the  recommendations  and  suggestions  therein  contained  : 

The  special  committee  appointed  to  examine  into  the  condition  of 
the  State  Capitol  and  determine  what  repairs  are  necessary,  and  the 
cost  of  the  same,  would  report  as  follows :  The  entire  exterior  of  the 
structure  requires  immediate  painting,  and  certain  portions  of  the 
interior.  The  amount  required  for  this  work  will  be  seven  thousand 
dollars.  The  roof  has  been  badly  damaged  from  the  work  done  in 
putting  on  the  balustrade  and  figures  over  the  cornice,  and  the  valleys 
and  portions  round  the  sky-lights,  and  at  the  base  of  the  dome  and 
the  roof  of  the  lanthorn,  should  at  once  be  soldered  in  the  best  possible 
manner,  as  from  this  source  the  decay  of  the  work  is  greatly  hastened. 
The  cost  of  this  work  will  be  two  thousand  dollars.  The  glass  of  the 
sky-light  requires  immediate  repairs,  many  of  them  being  broken ; 
strong  plate  should  be  used  in  the  exposed  portions.  This  will  amount 
to  the  sum  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  The  trusses  of  the  roof 
are  in  a  dangerous  condition,  and  should  be  at  once  strengthened,  and 
have  additional  bolts  put  in.  The  cost  will  be  one  thousand  dollars. 
Hoods  should  be  provided  for  the  chimneys,  the  cost  of  which  will 
be  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  The  joints  of  the  iron  work  should 
at  once  be  caulked.  The  cost  will  be  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 
The  joints  of  the  granite  cornice  need  either  leading  or  pointing,  at 
a  cost  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  Granite  work  should  be 
cleaned,  at  a  cost  of  eight  hundred  dollars.  Water  closets  at  south 
end  of  building  should  be  repaired,  at  a  cost  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars.  Screen  over  the  dome  lights,  fifty  dollars.  Iron  gratings  in 
small  windows  of  the  dome  to  prevent  access  to  the  roof,  one  hun- 
dred dollars.  Sum  total  of  all  repairs,  five  thousand  one  hundred 
dollars. 

These  are  the  principal  items  of  repairs,  and  should  be  at  once 
completed,  as  any  further  delay  only  injures  the  stability  of  the 
structure,  which,  if  once  impaired,  will  cost  ten  dollars  to  repair 
where  one  is  sufficient  now. 

STATE   AGRICULTURAL   SOCIETY'S   GROUNDS. 

Your  Committees  on  Public  Buildings  and  Grounds  would  further 
report,  concerning  the  buildings  at  the  State  Agricultural  Society's 
Grounds,  as  follows:  They  visited  the  grounds  in  company  with 
Messrs.  Hamilton  and  Mott,  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  and  Major 
Beck,  the  Secretary  of  the  society.  A  careful  examination  was  had 
of  the  buildings  and  grounds,  the  grand  stand  being  the  principal 
object  'of  our  attention.  We  find  it  to  be  a  large  and  remarkably 
well-constructed  building,  capable  of  safely  and  comfortably  seating 
seven  thousand  persons,  with  ample  means  of  exit,  and  the  usual 
offices.  We  find  the  same  to  have  been  erected  at  a  very  reasonable 
cost,  under  the  immediate  superintendence  of  Messrs.  Cox  and  Carr, 


12 

of  the  Board  of  Directors,  who  gratuitously  devoted  their  time  to 
this  work.  All  the  buildings  connected  with  the  fair  grounds  we 
find  in  good  repair,  everything  giving  evidence  of  watchful  care  of 
the  interests  confided  to  the  Board  of  Directors ;  and  we  would  rec- 
ommend the  appropriation  of  the  amount  of  money  required  to  liq- 
uidate the  indebtedness  of  the  institution.  > 

-TATE    UNIVERSITY   AT   BERKELEY. 

The  Committees  on  Public  Buildings  and  Grounds  visited  the  State 
University  at  Berkeley,  and  under  the  guidance  of  Acting  President 
Le  Conte  made  an  examination  of  the  college  buildings,  which  were 
found  in  good  order,  no  repairs  being  required.  The  President  stated 
that  owing  to  the  vast  increase  of  students  attending  the  various 
classes  provision  should  be  made  for  additional  buildings  to  receive 
the  library  and  museum  (they  are  now  situated  in  the  College  of 
Agriculture,  and  occupy  large  class  rooms),  and  for  a  building  for  a 
College  of  Mining  and  Mechanic  Arts,  there  being  no  provision  made 
for  the  machinery  and  apparatus  required  for  such  an  institution. 
We  do  not  deem  it  advisable  at  this  time  to  recommend  an  appropri- 
ation for  the  library  building,  but  recognizing  the  necessity  that 
exists  for  the  thorough  organization  of  the  latter  department,  we 
recommend  an  appropriation  of  forty  thousand  dollars  for  the  erec- 
tion of  a  suitable  building  for  that  purpose. 

Professor  Soule,  of  the  College  of  Engineering,  accompanied  us 
over  the  grounds  and  pointed  out  tons  the  various  points  from  which 
the  water  supply  of  the  college  was  to  be  obtained.  This  was  a  mat- 
ter which  so  occupied  our  attention  that  we  held  a  special  meeting  at 
the  office  of  the  Regents  in  San  Francisco,  at  which  were  present 
Mt/.-srs.  Winans.  of  the  Board  of  Regents,  and  J.  \Y.  Dwinelle,  ex- 
Regent,  and  Coffee,  Duncan  and  Shanklin,  all  of  whom  were  exam- 
ined as  to  the  interests  of  the  University  in  the  mountain  lands  and 
Hey  wood  Springs.  The  result  of  our  inquiry  developed  the  following 
condition  of  affairs  :  A  water  company,  properly  incorporated,  had 
obtained  possession  of  the  source  of  water  supply  of  Strawberry  Creek, 
which  vested  in  the  College  of  California.  On  the  assumption  of  the 
property  of  the  latter  institution  their  interests  in  the  water  company 
passed  into  the  possession  of  the  Regents.  This  left  the  University 
with  an  undisputed  right  to  the  full  supply  of  water  passing  through 
that  creek,  to  the  exclusion  of  all  others  between  them.  For  reasons, 
however,  which  have  not  been  explained,  the  Board  of  Regents  sold 
to  Mrs.  M.  Brayton  all  of  its  rights  in  the  very  land  upon  which  the 
water  supply  was  situated,  taking  in  exchange  property  in  Oakland 
for  which  the  University  can  have  no  possible  use.  The  supply  from 
which  the  water  is  now  obtained  is  partly  on  the  land  disposed  of, 
and  partly  from  the  Heywood  Springs.  It  is  claimed  that  the  State 
has  a  right  to  four  inches  per  day  from  that  source.  This  is  the  only 
supply  of  water  for  which  the  State  has  any  claim.  It  is  entirely 
inadequate  for  the  purposes  of  the  institution,  and  nothing  now 
remains  to  be  done  but  for  the  State  to  proceed  to  condemn  the  water 
shed  in  the  vicinity  and  secure  for  all  time  an  adequate  supply. 

\\  e  cannot  leave  this  matter  without  expressing  our  utter  condem- 
nation of  the  loose  and  unbusiness-like  manner  in  which  the  inter- 
of  the  State  have  been  managed  in  this  connection.  The 
disposition  of  the  land  donation  next  occupied  our  attention,  but 


13 

owning  to  the  vast  amount  of  detail,  which  it  would  be  necessary  to 
investigate,  we  were  unable  to  determine  the  manner  of  its  disposal; 
the  formation  of  a  land  office  in  connection  with  the  University,  to 
our  mind,  was  not  only  a  needless  expense,  but  a  great  incumbrance 
to  purchasers.  The  State  Land  Office  could  have  transacted  all  the 
business,  and  this  additional  expense  saved  the  State ;  such,  how- 
ever, seems  not  to  have  met  the  ideas  of  the  Regents,  and  an  expen- 
sive office  was  created. 

The  Regents  have  presented  a  memorial  setting  forth,  in  detail, 
what  they  consider  the  needs  of  the  University : 

For  a  library  and  museum $100,000 

For  an  auditorium  and  drill-room 10,000 

For  mining  and  mechanical  college 40,000 

For  increase  of  water  supply 22,000 

For  agricultural  experiments 10,000 

For  additional  books 5,000 

For  improvement  of  ground 10,000 

Sum  total  for  buildings,  etc.  _.  §197,000 

Of  this  amount  we  have  only  consented  to  the  appropriation  neces- 
sary for  the  College  of  Mining  and  Mechanic  Arts.  The  other  build- 
ings and  improvements  can  be  done  at  some  future  time  when, 
perhaps,  the  management  of  the  institution  will  be  more  in  accord 
with  the  wishes  of  the  people,  whose  desires  in  nearly  everything 
pertaining  to  this  institution  have  been  contemptuously  disregarded. 
The  conclusions  arrived  at  by  the  committees  are  as  follows : 
The  Board  of  Regents,  in  disposing  of  the  property  upon  which  is 
situated  the  source  of  water  supply,  committed  a  grievous  error,  by 
which  the  interests  of  the  State  have  been  seriously  impaired.  The 
formation  of  a  separate  land  office,  for  the  disposal  of  the  State 
lands,  was  a  useless  expense — the  State  Land  Office  could  have  trans- 
acted all  the  business  required  without  cost  to  the  University.  The 
delay  which  has  ensued  in  the  formation  of  a  College  of  Mining  and 
Mechanic  Arts,  and  providing  a  building  therefor,  to  the  present 
time,  shows  a  want  of  sympathy  for  such  a  course  of  education, 
which,  in  pur  opinion,  was  undoubtedly  the  great  object  which  the 
State  had  in  view  when  she  founded  the  institution.  We  are,  there- 
fore, of  the  opinion  that  the  interest  on  the  grant  from  the  United 
States  to  the  University,  should  be  appropriated  by  the  Board  of 
Regents  for  the  purpose  of  paying  instructors  and  incidental  ex- 
penses in  the  departments  of  agricultural,  mechanic  arts,  and 
mining ;  and,  in  case  said  money  is  more  than  sufficient,  that  all 
accumulations  of  said  sums  be  invested  for  the  benefit  of  these 
colleges,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  grant  of  Congress. 

M.  J.  DONOVAN, 

Chairman  Senate  Committee. 

G.  N.  CORNWELL, 
Chairman  Assembly  Committee. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


